Bascerfield is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Bascerfield family lived in Herefordshire, although the name is derived from the area of the family's residence sometime prior to the 1066 invasion. The family was formerly from Boscherville in Eure, Normandy. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) The name of this town comes from the Old Northern French elements bochet, which means copse or thicket, and ville, which means town.

Bascerfield Early Origins

The surname Bascerfield was first found in Herefordshire, where "the family of Baskerville is one of the most ancient and honourable in England, and from the time of it's Norman patriarch, has continued to hold the highest position amongst the great landed proprietors. It's earliest residence was the castle of Erdisley." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print. Of this line one of the earliest records of the name was Sir Richard Baskerville of Erdisley who represented the county of Hereford in parliament in 1295. His wife was daughter of Rees ap Griffith, Prince of South Wales. [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print. Roger de Bascheruilla was listed in Gloucestershire in 1127. [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)Shropshire had the following early records: Roger de Bascrevill (reign of Henry III); and Nesta de Baskervill. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Hugh de Baskerville in Shropshire. [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) Some of the family have been well established at Winterbourne-Basset since early times. "Some property here formerly possessed by the Baskervilles has descended to Lord Holland. The church is a small ancient edifice with a neat tower, containing portions in the early and later English styles; it has a handsomely carved font, and in one of the aisles is a singularly elegant window: the chief monuments are of the family of Baskerville, who long resided here." [4]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Bascerfield Spelling Variations

Bascerfield Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Baskerville, Baskervile, Baskervill, Baskerfield, Baskervyle, Basquill and many more.

Bascerfield Early History

Bascerfield Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bascerfield research. Another 251 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1922, 1936, 1295, 1314, 1315, 1572, 1597, 1592, 1615, 1640, 1597, 1668, 1630 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Bascerfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bascerfield Early Notables (pre 1700)

Bascerfield Early Notables (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Richard Baskerville, Member of Parliament for Hereford in 1295; Sir John Baskerville of Combe who served in the retinue of Henry V. at the battle of Agincourt; Richard de Baskervill, High Sheriff of Herefordshire (1314-1315); Thomas Baskerville (died 1572), MP for Worcestershire...

Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bascerfield Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bascerfield In Ireland

Bascerfield In Ireland

Some of the Bascerfield family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 41 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Bascerfield or a variant listed above: Mary and Robert Baskerville who settled in Virginia in 1635; Richard Baskerville who settled in New England in 1634. A Baskerfield settled in Heatherton in the St. Georges district of Newfoundland..

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Other References

Bede, The Venerable. Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History Of the English People). Available through Internet Medieval Sourcebook the Fordham University Centre for Medieval Studies. Print.

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X).

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The Bascerfield Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Bascerfield Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.